CALL TODAY TO PROTECT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IN ILLINOIS

As a union member, you know that collective bargaining gives you a voice on the job and the ability to negotiate over your salary, working conditions, and other issues that benefit both union and non-union workers and your community. But this Wednesday, May 27 at 2:00pm, the Senate Executive Committee will hold a hearing on legislation that would restrict these fundamental rights. Let’s stop it in its tracks.

Please call members of the Senate Executive Committee today to urge a NO vote on SB 1046, Senate Amendment 1 (SA1) – Rauner’s anti-worker agenda.

NOTE: The Senate Executive Committee is a critical hurdle for this harmful amendment. Even if you don’t see your Senator listed below, please call as many as possible, especially if he or she represents a town near you.

Senator Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) 217-782-8176

Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago) 217-782-5500

Senator James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis) 217-782-5399

Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) 217-782-2728

Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) 217-782-5966

Senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Westchester) 217-782-8505

Senator Terry Link (D-Gurnee) 217-782-8181

Senator Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago) 217-782-9415

Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) 217-782-5338

Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago) 217-782-8492

Senator Donne Trotter (D-Chicago) 217-782-3201

Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) 217-782-4471

Senator William Brady (R-Bloomington) 217-782-6216

Senator David Luechtefeld (D-Okawville) 217-782-8137

Senator Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) 217-782-7730

Senator Sue Rezin (R-Peru) 217-782-3840

Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) 217-782-5413

SB1046, SA 1 includes some of the most harmful aspects of Governor Rauner’s “turnaround” agenda. It would take away employees’ rights to bargain over: wages and pay equity health insurance maternity leave, child care benefits evaluations privatization of services and more. The legislation would also freeze property taxes, dramatically reducing the money available for education and public services in our communities. When teachers and other workers are able to collectively bargain, we help level the unbalanced playing field that always favors the employer. Through collective bargaining, we have negotiated gains that provide an opportunity for all families, not just labor households, to earn a living and raise a family.

Simply put, collective bargaining has given average people a voice and helped create the middle class.

That’s what’s at stake. Look at Wisconsin to see what happens when collective bargaining is eliminated. Teachers and public employees there have seen (10 percent) wage cuts, increased class sizes, reduced health insurance coverage, loss of sick days, a longer work day/year, and more. Kids and communities have suffered the most. We can’t let that happen in Illinois.

The hearing is this Wednesday so call these Senators immediately and urge a NO vote on SB1046, SA1. Tell them why collective bargaining is important to you. Remind legislators that collective bargaining provides: workplace equity for women and people of color fair wages, for union and non-union workers job safety protections collaboration and innovation in education and public services Across the state, counties and municipalities have overwhelmingly rejected the dangerous proposals in the Governor’s “turnaround” agenda, including the elimination of collective bargaining. Tell Senators to listen to the voters and do the same by voting NO on SB1046, SA1.